This section is from the book "The Professed Cook: Or, The Modern Art Of Cookery, Pastry, And Confectionary", by B. Clermont. Also available from Amazon: The professed cook.
Pikes caught in rivers and in clear water, are preferable in goodness to those taken from ponds, and the Meat is sweeter and firmer; the large ones will be tenderer by being kept sometime after they are dead. They are not esteemed much in England, nor any where else where Sea-fish are plentiful, although they are valued, and their price sufficiently enhanced in inland countries. .
When the Pike is properly cleaned, cut it into Large pieces, and put them into a Stew-pan, with Butter, some Mushrooms, one dozen of small Onions half boiled, a faggot of Parsley, green Shallots, two Cloves, Thyme, and Laurel; soak these together some time, then add a pint of white Wine and Broth, Salt and whole Pepper; boil on a smart fire, reduce the Sauce, take out the Faggot, and make a Liaison with Cream, Eggs, and a little Nutmeg as usual, adding a Lemon Squeeze, if the Wine does not make it tart enough.
Cut it into pieces, and let it marinate about two hours in a little Vinegar and Water, Pepper, Salt, Parsley, Shallots, and sliced Onions; then wipe it dry, roll it in Batter, and fry it of a fine Colour: Serve upon a Ragout of the Roes, or any other Meagre Ragout, or with fried Parsley.
Stuff a good large Pike with a Farce made of Poultry, Cow's Udder, Bread Crumbs soaked in. Cream, scraped Lard, chopped Parsley, Shallots, Mush-rooms, Pepper and Salt, mixed with a few Yolks of Eggs; lard it on one side, wrap it up in Paper well buttered, and tie it to the spit without running it through: Serve with an Italian Sauce, which you will find in the Sauce Articles.
When the Fish is gutted and scalded, make a few incisions on the back and sides; rub it over with Salt and coarse Pepper, and marinate it in Oil, with Parsley, Shallots, one clove of Garlick, and two Laurel-leaves; tie it on a skewer in the form of a Dolphin, and bake it in the oven, basting now and then with some of the Marinate: When done, drain it off, and serve with what Sauce you please.
Cut a pike into several pieces, boning and flattening them as much as you can: Roll a good Farce round them, tie them in bits of cloth, and braze them in white Wine and Broth, with a piece of Butter, bits of Roots, a Faggot, Pepper and Salt: When done, strip each bit, and serve with what Sauce you think proper; a relishing sharp Sauce will prove best.
When it is well cleaned, rub it over with Salt about two hours before you propose to boil it; then wash off the unmelted Salt, and boil the Fish in Water, with Parsley-roots, and half a clove of Gar-lick chopped: Serve with Anchovy Sauce.
IF for Gras, stuff the Pike with a good Farce; lard one side with Bacon, and the other with Anchovies, and a few bits of Pickled Cucumbers through and through. - For Maigre, stuff it with a Farce made of Fish; lard one side with Eels instead of Bacon, the other with Anchovies; roll it up in double Paper well buttered, with Parsley, Shallots, two Cloves, Thyme, and Laurel, all whole, between the Paper and the Fish; tie it well with two or three skewers to the spit, and baste it with Butter boiled with white Wine: When it is done, take off the Paper to give it a good Colour, and serve with what Sauce you think proper.
 
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